Hoonigan and Subaru Motorsports USA are reviving the legendary Gymkhana series, and they’re doing it in the most outrageous way possible—as always. The new star of the show, the Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo, made its debut at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and it looks ready to destroy tires, bend physics, and break the internet once again.
A Return To The Roots Of “Hooning”
The upcoming Gymkhana film will be set in Australia, the land that literally invented the word “hoon.” It’s a fitting stage for Travis Pastrana’s next chapter behind the wheel. This will be Pastrana’s third fully custom Subaru built for Gymkhana, and if history is any indication, it’ll be packed with mind-blowing stunts, wild airtimes, and near misses that defy reason.
This time, Pastrana’s weapon of choice is a 1978 Subaru BRAT that’s been reborn into something no one saw coming. They re-named it “Brataroo,” and it blends vintage Subaru soul with cutting-edge motorsport tech, built from the ground up by Subaru of America and Vermont SportsCar.
The Brataroo Is Built To Literally Fly
Underneath the wide carbon-fiber body sits a rallycross-bred, turbocharged 2.0-liter boxer engine that makes 670 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque, revving past 9,500 RPM. Power goes through a six-speed sequential SADEV gearbox and a full all-wheel-drive setup. That is the kind of hardware designed for maximum chaos.
Every part of the Brataroo was engineered for violence and literal airtime. The car even features active aero that adjusts in real-time to control its balance mid-jump. Front fender louvers can pivot to manage attitude in the air, while the dual rear wings can be swapped for either high-speed stability or wild sideways stunts.
Old-School Looks, Next-Level Tech
While it might look like a 1978 BRAT at first glance, everything about the Brataroo is modern and extreme. The reimagined design comes from digital artist Khyzyl Saleem (better known as The Kyza on Instagram), blending the BRAT’s classic shape with aggressive motorsport proportions. The livery screams Australian Outback energy, complete with kangaroos flashing Pastrana’s thumbs-up and retro Subaru branding across the sides.
Inside, the cabin too mixes retro with performance. A carbon-fiber dash and flax-composite wood-grain accents nod to the BRAT’s roots, while modern controls handle the active aero and onboard systems. Even the CB radio and old-school HVAC switches made the cut, though they’ve been reprogrammed for stunt duty.
Pastrana’s Craziest Ride Yet
“This BRAT’s completely unhinged — in the best way possible,” said Pastrana. “It’s got the soul of a vintage Subaru with the tech to do things no Gymkhana car has ever done. Every part of it is designed to take abuse, fly big, and come back for more.”
The Gymkhana franchise began with late Ken Block’s original vision to turn creative driving into a worldwide movement, and Pastrana’s Brataroo continues that legacy. With the new Gymkhana: Aussie Shred film premiering this December on the Hoonigan YouTube channel, expect some of the wildest driving ever caught on camera.
Images: Subaru Motorsports USA
